Graveyard Photoshoot

We went to the cemetery for the theme for the product line of tshirts being released!!

Both photos are well done. But since you posted in C&C, I'll add my thoughts.

#1) I love the background of the tombstone and I think you nailed the lighting/exposure. My only grip is the pose just looks different to me. Did you try any with the subjects head down instead of turned to the right? Again, small nit-pick but overall, fantastic shot.

#2) This one doesn't pop to me as much as the first. Is there any way to bring out the black more on the t-shirt to make it stand out a bit more? The t-shirt (to my eyes) seems a little dull/washed out compared to the rest of the photo.

Both are great though, especially the first.

Thank you so much Im going to work on the tshirt in the 2nd pic a lil more.

Not sure how your t-shirts tie in with graveyards, but... Here's my 2 cents.

No way to tell where the second shot was taken - maybe go back at dusk so you can drag the shutter and get more of the graveyard in the background. As is, it's a tree with a harsh shadow from your flash on it and some round circle in the BG that is probably the moon? Is something hanging out of his back pocket or is it something on the ground?

The first one is better as you can obviously see the tombstone but again, I think for atmosphere it would be better to shoot at dusk to see more of the cemetary. It's just too dark for me. I like the lighting better in this one too.

If you are selling products (t-shirts in this case) maybe get a little tighter so people can see the shirt better. Although neither are making eye contact with the camera, neither would make me think it's a fashion shot to advertise a line of clothing.

I think you are focusing too much on the setting and less on the T-Shirts? Get them in light so one can see the printed shirts, the graveyard doesn't want to make me run and buy one Look forward to another session!

The person I was shooting for had a specific concept he goes for of people wearing his shirts in any type of situation. So the shoot wasn't directly aimed at selling the shirts but just of the people in them. We have already done product shots to sell the tshirts.

As for the way to get more of the cemetery in the shot what does it mean to drag the shutter. Not a term or technique I'm familiar with.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

When you drag the shutter you increase the exposure time to allow more ambient light and just let the flash fill your subject.

It won't make much difference in the dead of night with no other light sources as you'd have to increase your exposure time way too much and introduce noise and possibility of your subject moving, wind blowing trees, leaves, etc and causing it to be out of focus. I'd recommend at dusk just after sun has set.

Ahh I know what you are saying now.... sorry never used that term before.

I did the best I could dragging the shutter but the power was out in the neighborhood from the previous thunderstorms. The only light source was the moon and my flash lol.

Unless you are sitting on the grave of someone you know, I think #1 is very disrespectful and others (who you are advertising to) may agree, so you may be alienating certain customers.
#2 The shadow of the person falling on the tree is distracting to me. Not sure I can recommend a fix, just something that I notice.

zosobao5150 wrote in post #14702449
Unless you are sitting on the grave of someone you know, I think #1 is very disrespectful and others (who you are advertising to) may agree, so you may be alienating certain customers.
#2 The shadow of the person falling on the tree is distracting to me. Not sure I can recommend a fix, just something that I notice.

My thoughts exactly.

I like the lighting of the first shot, though the bush to the upper right of the stone is distracting.

Next is my personal opinion. 99% of the time shooting in a graveyard should only be done by 16 year old goth kids or high school students who are taking an intro to photography class. The location and pose do not convey anything about a shirt company to me.